The UK countryside is full of some wonderful small bird species in a wide range of colours. But, none are smaller and bolder in colour than the Firecrest. This bird is one of the smallest to visit our forests and woodlands and is highly distinctive if we get the chance to see it. But, it isn’t that easy to find. So, where should you look for this cute little bird, and what else should we know about this species?
What does the Firecrest look like?
The Firecrest has green back feathers with an off-white belly blending with a very subtle and light brown as it nears the beak. It also has a black and white eye-stripe which can appear dark grey in some birds. Both male and female Firecrests have a yellow and black stripe on their heads, with the male having an additional bright orange centre streak.
The Firecrest is an impressive looking bird for something so small. You may not see it that easily at first, but you won’t mistake it that easily when you do. The name Firecrest refers to the crest of feathers on the birds head. This is a stronger shade of orange-yellow in the male than the female, which helps us tell them apart when we do get a good look. But, the crest is still more prominent than you might expect in the female bird.
The colouration across the rest of the body is also quite striking because of the strong olive-brown tone to the back and wings. There is also a bronzish look to some of the feathers in the right light that seems fitting with the alternative Kinglet name of this Regulus bird. Finally, there is a strong black stripe across the eye.
We also can’t underplay the small stature of this bird. This isn’t quite the smallest bird we have in the UK, but it isn’t far off. The Goldcrest, which you will learn a little more about later, is around 5g in weight. This bird can weigh 4-7g, depending on the situation. Those extra grams can make a difference between the birds, but we would still barely feel either of them on our hands.
What is the difference between Firecrests and Goldcrests?
As a general rule, both the Firecrest and Goldcrest appear very similar in appearance, but some distinct differences are. The Goldcrest appears a slightly duller grey/green and a pale belly, which appears white/grey in the Firecrest. In addition, although the Goldcrest has a similar black and yellow stripe on their head, they do not share the black/grey eye-stripe that appears on the Firecrest.
When you look at a Firecrest, you will immediately see similarities with the Goldcrest. Although still quite difficult to spot, the Goldcrest is a far more common bird in the UK. So, how can you be sure that the bird you suspect to be a Firecrest isn’t actually a Goldcrest? Goldcrests are charming birds in their own right, but it is nice to be certain if you have the rarer Firecrest or not. The best place to start is with the plumage and facial markings. This can be tricky with these energetic birds, but not impossible if you have binoculars or manage to capture one on camera.
| Firecrest | Goldcrest | |
| Length | 9cm | 9cm |
| Wingspan | 13-16cm | 14cm |
| Weight | 5-7g | 6g |
| Diet | Small spiders, moth eggs and other small insects | Small spiders, moth eggs and other small insects |
Surprisingly, it isn’t the crest you need to focus on here. The Firecrest crest is bold and orange on the male, but Goldcrest males can also have some orange in theirs. Instead, look for that stripe across the face. The Goldcrest doesn’t have this and they also tend to have much paler colouration across the body. Other physical differences between the two include the length of the hind toe and the shape of the tail. The former is tricky to notice, but the longer toe on the Goldcrest is important for helping it chase food around tree trunks. The foot also has grooves for a better grip. Firecrests don’t need this.
What they do need is the broader tail for hovering in flight. The Goldcrests is more forked to help with its agility. Typically, if you have a paler bird with a bright crest flitting through the trees non-stop for food, it is the Goldcrest.
Their alternative preference for smaller prey makes them less fussy while the Firecrest goes and hunts the larger creatures. This is where the broader bill of the Firecrest and its facial bristles help too. As a result, it can handle larger insects and beat them to death without the risk of injury. These simple adaptations, along with the longer distances travelled by the Firecrest, help the two co-exist in the same habitat.
Another Difference Is The Call Of The Firecrest
Identifying birds by the call is difficult and this may not be something you can do with ease with a nearby Firecrest. However, you have a greater chance with this bird than the Goldcrest because it is more audible. Both birds have a similar style of call where they have some basic repeated noted in a high pitch. One description likens it to someone trying to start a motor. In mainland Europe, there are cases of the vocal range increasing to bring in other notes to warn off neighbouring Goldcrests.
Call of the Firecrest
Call of the Goldcrest
The lower pitch of the song does make it easier for human ears to pick it up – although it does seem to be easier the younger you are. So, if you see a small Kinglet bird and believe you can make out a call, it is more likely to be a Firecrest.
Is The Firecrest Rare in UK?
The first sign that you will get off a potential Firecrest crossing your path is that small flash of colour between the trees in the woodland. You might get a glimpse of the crest in your peripheral vision as it is entirely different to the plumage of most other birds in the woods at that time of year. The tiny Wren is much blander and the tits are much bigger. With that said, it is possible to find Firecrests and Goldcrests feeding with tits, perhaps for safety in numbers. So, it is worth scanning the area.
Although physically hard to spot, the chances of seeing them are higher than ever. There was a time when you were lucky to see a Firecrest in the UK, typically just in Southern Britain. Unfortunately, it didn’t breed here until 1962. Now, the range has increased. It all depends on the time of year and your location.
A small population of birds will maintain their homes in woods in Southern England. So, if you were to find the right tree somewhere like the New Forest and wait for a while around over the summer, there is the possibility that one will show up.
However, it is much easier to see one of these birds in December or January. This is when there is an influx of birds from the continent. Breeding birds will be seen gathering nesting material and food in late winter and spring as they make the most of the season.
Does This Mean That The Tiny Firecrest Is A Migrant?
Climate change has allowed for many adaptions by species in the Northern hemisphere. For example, as the winters here become milder, we see more summer visitors staying longer and other species wintering further north than before.
Some birds further west may still be migratory, but others stay in the UK to breed. This is preferable for the bird as they don’t have to undertake those risky migrations between sites. But, the temperature change also has a knock-on effect on the availability of food during the nesting season.
Breeding Season For The Firecrest
The Firecrest prefers to head to woodland and forest to breed, where it can find a safe spot for its nest and plenty of suitable vegetation. The nest should remain hidden from view quite easily with the compact structure of dense vegetable matter.
It is also out the way of harm up in tree branches. The more hidden the nest, the lower the risk of predation. Yet, there is a story of a Goldcrest nesting close to a Sparrowhawk because few other birds would go near it.
The female will lay many eggs, sometimes as many as 12, and incubate them in this cosy nest. Twelve may seem like a lot of hungry mouths to feed, but it is also a good insurance policy. There is a high risk that the adult population will take a hit over the winter, so they need to replace numbers fast. Not all twelve are likely to make it to adulthood, and some may fail to hatch at all. However, the bird has increased the odds of at least 25% of chicks fledging by laying more.
For A Tiny Bird, The Firecrest Has A Big Appetite
The feeding habits of these birds are very interesting as they have to go for much bigger prey than you would expect them to. Small birds still need to eat a lot to conserve enough energy to get through the season. The strategy is a little different in that they will be a little pickier about the insects they go after.
They will target larger creatures with high calorific values rather than lots of smaller flies and bugs. They are even known to take orb-web spiders where they can because they are so nutritious. However, there is a risk here of the lightweight birds getting caught up in the webs if they aren’t careful. This could leave them being vulnerable to predation, exposure, or even starvation.
An interesting behaviour observed when watching Firecrests is their apparent ability to hover. Of course, this isn’t quite the same as the long hover of the Kestrel search for its prey, nor the rapid hover of a hummingbird. Still, comparisons have been made to the hummingbird because people see such small colourful birds hanging in the air and don’t realise what they saw.
The bird has the agility to maintain its position momentarily while it picks off prey. This saves more time than landing and taking off again and is less likely to alert the insect to their presence. It also makes sense for the Firecrest to do this when it can’t physically grasp the tree the same way as the Goldcrest.
Is The Firecrest Vulnerable As It Is So Small?
The Firecrest is a tough little bird and has some smart strategies when it comes to breeding and getting through the winter. However, it is not invisible and there are various challenges to overcome. The first is predation, as many of these small birds will be seen as easy prey and a quick snack.
The main culprit here is often the Sparrowhawk, which tends to hunt small birds due to its own stature and effective flight patterns. Tawny Owls may also take them if the opportunity arises. However, there are also predation risks for those nests. A clutch of eggs in a tree is a nutritious meal for many birds and mammals.
Will Firecrests Come To Our Gardens To Feed Over The Winter?
You may get Firecrest visiting your garden depending on the landscape and availability of natural prey. They can hang out in the security of large trees, especially any conifers you have and come down to the garden to look for food.
Their love of orb spiders could be a bonus here if that is something you see on webs in your borders. Otherwise, you will not likely get them sticking around for long. The diet is 100% insectivorous to give them the calories they need to survive, and the size of the prey means that tiny dried mealworms out on a table may not be worth the risk of being seen in the open. They are also less likely to feed on fat balls and suet and won’t want any seed in the feeders.
Keep An Eye Out For The Bold Firecrest Over Winter
Don’t be disheartened that the Firecrest is more challenging to spot than its Goldcrest cousin. This makes it even more special when you do get to see them. There is still a chance these birds will appear in your garden for a brief visit, especially if you have trees that make good nesting sites or good supplies of tasty spiders.
A better option is to head out to the woods in December and January and be patient. As you watch other bird species feeding in the trees, keep an eye out for that flash of a crest from Firecrest tagging along behind. They are worth the wait.
